The coordinates of the top of a tree are (-3,8), and an acorn is attached to the tree at (-1,5). If we know that the acorn lies exactly halfway between a squirrel and the top of the tree, what are the coordinates of the squirrel?

Let's say that the coordinates of the squirrel are: (x, y)Since the coordinates of the acorn is halfway, between the tree and the squirrel, that means the acorn is the midpoint.To work out the midpoint you do:(sum of x-coordinates) divided by 2,  (sum of y coordinates) divided by 2.We can use this to form an equation .So the sum of the x coordinates of the tree and the squirrel = -1   :x-coordinates of the squirrel:[tex]\frac{-3+x}{2}=-1[/tex]                   (now solve for x)[tex]-3+x = -2[/tex][tex]x=1[/tex]y-coordinates:[tex]\frac{8+y}{2}=5[/tex]                   (now solve for y)[tex]8+y=10[/tex][tex]y = 2[/tex]So the coordinates of the squirrel are: (1, 2)____________________Answer: (1, 2)